Published on Mar 09, 2021 | 2:52 PM
Share Article :
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It spreads primarily through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact and can affect people of all genders. Gonorrhea often causes symptoms such as painful urination and genital discharge, but many infections cause no symptoms at all. When left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious health complications.
As covered in the Call-On-Doc Guide to Gonorrhea, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is one of the most commonly reported STIs in the United States—particularly among adolescents and young adults ages 15–24.
Many people with gonorrhea do not experience symptoms, which makes routine testing especially important. When symptoms do occur, they may differ depending on anatomy and the site of infection.
Common symptoms in males may include:
Pain or burning during urination
Increased urgency or frequency of urination
Pain or swelling in one testicle
Thick, pus-like discharge from the penis
Common symptoms in females may include:
Pain or burning during urination
Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge
Vaginal bleeding between periods or after intercourse
Symptoms in other parts of the body (any gender):
Throat: sore throat, swollen lymph nodes
Rectum: itching, discharge, bleeding with bowel movements
Eyes: pain, redness, light sensitivity, pus-like discharge
Joints: swelling, warmth, redness, severe pain (rare, but serious)
Gonorrhea is transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. Ejaculation does not need to occur for transmission.
A pregnant person with gonorrhea can pass the infection to their baby during vaginal childbirth, which can cause serious eye infections or other complications in newborns. Cesarean delivery significantly reduces this risk.
Gonorrhea cannot be spread through casual contact, toilet seats, shared clothing, or touching surfaces. The bacteria do not survive well outside the human body.
Consistent condom use significantly reduces—but does not eliminate—the risk of transmission.
No. Gonorrhea does not reliably go away without treatment. Even if symptoms improve or disappear, the infection can remain and continue to spread to others. Untreated gonorrhea may also cause long-term complications.
Because gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, it is treatable with prescription antibiotics. However, antibiotic resistance is increasing, which makes timely diagnosis and proper treatment essential.
Untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious health consequences:
Increased risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or ectopic pregnancy
Pregnancy complications, including infection of the newborn
Epididymitis in men, which can lead to testicular pain, scarring, and infertility
Rarely, disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), affecting joints, skin, and bloodstream
Testing is recommended for anyone with:
New or multiple sexual partners
Symptoms of an STI
A partner who tested positive
Routine screening needs (even without symptoms)
Testing typically involves a urine sample or swab, depending on the site of exposure. If results are positive, treatment usually involves antibiotics, often given as an injection with or without oral medication, based on current guidelines.
Follow-up testing may be recommended to ensure the infection is fully cleared.
Prevention strategies include:
Consistent condom use
Mutual monogamy with a tested partner
Routine STI testing
Prompt treatment of infected individuals
Honest communication with sexual partners
Regular testing is especially important because many STIs—including gonorrhea—may not cause noticeable symptoms.
Do not feel ashamed or afraid to get tested. Gonorrhea is common, treatable, and manageable—especially when caught early. Getting tested protects your health and the health of others.
With modern telehealth options, you can start your care discreetly online. While testing itself requires a lab or clinic visit, consultations, follow-up care, and prescriptions can often be handled virtually.
Ready to take control of your sexual health?
Visit Call-On-Doc today to start an effective STD testing and treatment plan.
Get Gonorrhea Treatment Online
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides. updated 12/24/2025
Get Treated for STDs without Testing
Most people typically assume that when it comes to STD treatment, you’ll need to go to a doctor’s office and get tested. Not only can the entire process be unnerving, but going into a doctor's office can be uncomfortable, timely, and expensive. However, there is now a more accessible option for STD treatment with telemedicine. Call-On-Doc provides same-day relief for STD symptoms without the hassle of appointments, lab testing, and face-to-face visits.
Specializing in asynchronous consultations, an online text-style visit, our board-certified medical providers offer STD treatment online for a reduced cost that is 100% private and from the comfort of home on your phone or computer!
Simply select a condition and fill out the medical intake form. Then, we'll review and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan that is available for pick-up at any US pharmacy in 1-2 hours.
Not sure what STD you have? No problem, we can still help treat you. On our STD page, select "unsure" and answer a few questions about your symptoms. Our medical providers will know what treatment option is best based on the medical and sexual history as well as other information you can provide.
Does your partner also need treatment? We can help keep both of you sexually healthy and provide 50% off partner treatment.
Apr 18, 2023 | 1:20 PM
Read More
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Gonorrhea
Informally known as “the clap,” gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. One of the most common STIs, second behind chlamydia, gonorrhea cases have constantly risen year over year since 2009. (1)
Due to a majority of cases going without noticeable symptoms, it's suspected that reported cases only make up a fraction of a much greater number. In addition, those who are younger and more sexually active are less likely to practice safe sex, therefore being more prone to gonorrhea transmission and may not be informed about the symptoms.
Jul 18, 2023 | 10:51 AM
Read More
The Problem with Antibiotic Resistant STDS
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a common occurrence in the United States, with the CDC reporting over 20 million cases annually and continually rising year over year. The highest reported number of cases are in those under 25 as well as in gay and bisexual men. (1) Due to the continual increase in cases, STD treatment needs to be easy to get and accessible by anyone. However, it is important to know more about the prescriptions that treat STDs and antibiotic resistance concerns.
Due to most STDs being caused by bacteria, antibiotics proved to be highly effective at treating them. Today they still offer a rapid and targeted approach to eradicating the pathogen responsible for the infection. Developments like Azithromycin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, and more were crucial to eradicating the infection in patients. However, in some areas, overuse or misuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that are starting to spread in the states, rendering standard treatments ineffective.
Hardly a new phenomenon since the time penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, bacteria evolved a workaround by mutating an antibiotic resistance, E. coli being the first in 1940. (2) While still uncommon, a bacteria resistant to the first line of STD treatment often results in more advanced and expensive measures. However, understanding how the organism gets there and knowing how to recognize the signs indicating antibiotic resistance to STDs has proven helpful in stemming the appearance of harder-to-treat sexually transmitted infections.
Sep 15, 2023 | 2:01 PM
Read More
Get Treated for STDs without Testing
Most people typically assume that when it comes to STD treatment, you’ll need to go to a doctor’s office and get tested. Not only can the entire process be unnerving, but going into a doctor's office can be uncomfortable, timely, and expensive. However, there is now a more accessible option for STD treatment with telemedicine. Call-On-Doc provides same-day relief for STD symptoms without the hassle of appointments, lab testing, and face-to-face visits.
Specializing in asynchronous consultations, an online text-style visit, our board-certified medical providers offer STD treatment online for a reduced cost that is 100% private and from the comfort of home on your phone or computer!
Simply select a condition and fill out the medical intake form. Then, we'll review and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan that is available for pick-up at any US pharmacy in 1-2 hours.
Not sure what STD you have? No problem, we can still help treat you. On our STD page, select "unsure" and answer a few questions about your symptoms. Our medical providers will know what treatment option is best based on the medical and sexual history as well as other information you can provide.
Does your partner also need treatment? We can help keep both of you sexually healthy and provide 50% off partner treatment.
Apr 18, 2023 | 1:20 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Gonorrhea
Informally known as “the clap,” gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. One of the most common STIs, second behind chlamydia, gonorrhea cases have constantly risen year over year since 2009. (1)
Due to a majority of cases going without noticeable symptoms, it's suspected that reported cases only make up a fraction of a much greater number. In addition, those who are younger and more sexually active are less likely to practice safe sex, therefore being more prone to gonorrhea transmission and may not be informed about the symptoms.
Jul 18, 2023 | 10:51 AM
The Problem with Antibiotic Resistant STDS
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a common occurrence in the United States, with the CDC reporting over 20 million cases annually and continually rising year over year. The highest reported number of cases are in those under 25 as well as in gay and bisexual men. (1) Due to the continual increase in cases, STD treatment needs to be easy to get and accessible by anyone. However, it is important to know more about the prescriptions that treat STDs and antibiotic resistance concerns.
Due to most STDs being caused by bacteria, antibiotics proved to be highly effective at treating them. Today they still offer a rapid and targeted approach to eradicating the pathogen responsible for the infection. Developments like Azithromycin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, and more were crucial to eradicating the infection in patients. However, in some areas, overuse or misuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that are starting to spread in the states, rendering standard treatments ineffective.
Hardly a new phenomenon since the time penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, bacteria evolved a workaround by mutating an antibiotic resistance, E. coli being the first in 1940. (2) While still uncommon, a bacteria resistant to the first line of STD treatment often results in more advanced and expensive measures. However, understanding how the organism gets there and knowing how to recognize the signs indicating antibiotic resistance to STDs has proven helpful in stemming the appearance of harder-to-treat sexually transmitted infections.
Sep 15, 2023 | 2:01 PM
Feedback from our amazing patients!
"I can’t believe I did not know about this kind of service! This was absolutely perfect for my health concern and they were able to provide me with the necessary medication and with such cinch. Completely recommended this service. For minor health concerns, this can save you an unnecessary and costly trip to an urgent care center."
"Amazing!! Easy and fast! I didn’t have to take my 4 year old into an urgent care where only god knows what germs are there. The doctor sent the script right to my pharmacy within minutes!!!"
"I would give 10 stars if I could! CallonDoc is literally the reason I am recovering instead of suffering as I write this. I was skeptical at first, but I’m not kidding when I tell you I got prescribed my antibiotics and picked it up at the pharmacy within 2 hours. So instead of waiting & paying around 300$...I paid 40$!! I’m very pleased."
Be the first to know when we offer deals.
Want to learn about a specific topic or condition?